Jail Study Gives Rationale for Alternatives

Stating that "rehabilitation of most offenders can occur outside of incarceration with far greater potential for success," a recent criminal justice system and jail population management assessment in Dane County (Madison, WI) called for an expanded use of alternatives to incarceration.

The study cited the Huber Work Release Program as one that "could be greatly expanded by allowing more serious non-dangerous offenders to be assigned to the program," given "support... classification outcomes, and national best practices directions."

Community service in lieu of a payment of a fine was also among the recommendations, noting "it is a cornerstone of successful 'restorative justice' programs for adults as well as juvenile offenders." *

*Source: Institute for Law and Policy Planning - www.ilpp.org

Professional Opportunities

Join the growing ranks of APA Professional Consultants. We have contractual opportunities for retired Probation and Parole agents as well as for active psychologists interested in dealing with justice situations.

We operate both in State and Federal courts and provide pre-sentencing planning documents and services to clients facing possible incarceration.

This is an opportunity for you to do the kind of work for which you were trained in a professional setting under the supervision of experienced corrections professionals. We prefer those professionals who are retired from State or Federal service but are not ready to retire from an active career in the Criminal Justice System.

Use our "Contact Us" E-mail form to get the conversation started today.

A Message from Our President

Alternative Planning Associates is new as a company but our experience in the public sector with alternatives to institutions is a common ingredient among the professionals associated with us. In some cases, that experience spans careers of 30 to 40 years in community corrections from probation and parole work to top correctional administration. It has included all levels of state and local government and diverse populations of offenders numbering in the tens of thousands.

When I established pre-release centers throughout Pennsylvania in the late 1960's, programs could not be created fast enough to meet societal demands for rehabilitation in the community in lieu of institutions. Community-based programs were viewed as more humane than prisons and more promising in reducing recidivism. However, with the growing impact of drugs and advent of harsher sentences, the pendulum, as we all know, swung to an extended period of enormous jail and prison population growth and overcrowding, which is still with us.

As a result, one of my challenges was managing the population explosion on Ricker's Island and in the boroughs of New York City. Nonetheless, in other jurisdictions some of us were able to implement or keep alive programs such as furloughs, work release, community treatment centers, probation and parole, community service, home detention, and the like. I welcome today's revived interest in alternatives as a response to the costly, counter-productive affects of jail and prison overcrowding and in recognition of the potential of such measures for improved rehabilitative success.

Alternative Planning Associates provides criminal defense attorneys with plans that advocate specific alternatives when the risk of incarceration is at stake.

The plans are based on expert case analysis of information derived from personal interviews and collateral contacts. In some cases the information is augmented by psychological assessments. Former probation and parole agents highly qualified by education and experience match needs of the individual and the community with resources that balance rehabilitation and community safety.

Typically, plans are comprehensive and may include such elements as restorative justice, community service, cognitive behavioral therapy, financial planning, mentoring, employment, and residence.

I am available to discuss your case. Contact me through our "Contact Us" page.

-- Allyn R. Sielaff
President, Alternative Planning Associates LLC